Dispensing valve closure with inner seal

Abstract

A dispensing valve closure (10) is provided which includes a closure body (12) and a cap (14). A self-sealing dispensing valve (16) is disposed within the closure (10) and is held in place with a retaining ring (18). Drain holes (50-56) allow drainage of any fluids built up under the cap (14).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A sealing and dispensing device for a package containing a fluid, the package including a land area, comprising: a closure shaped to engage with the package;   a self-sealing dispensing valve disposed within said closure; and   a cap operable to cover said closure, said cap including at least one drain hole to allow drainage of undesirable matter that may exist under said cap.   
     
     
       2. The device of claim 1, and further comprising an inner seal operable to seal on the land area. 
     
     
       3. The device of claim 1, wherein the fluid is a sports drink. 
     
     
       4. The device of claim 1, and further comprising a retaining ring operable to hold said self-sealing dispensing valve within said closure. 
     
     
       5. The device of claim 1, wherein the undesirable matter is water. 
     
     
       6. The device of claim 1, and wherein said cap includes a flip lever. 
     
     
       7. The device of claim 1, wherein said cap includes a protrusion to prevent said self-sealing dispensing valve from opening while said cap is closed. 
     
     
       8. A method of sealing a bottle comprising: filling a bottle with a fluid;   attaching a closure to the bottle, the closure including at least one drain hole positioned to permit drainage of undesirable matter from within the closure to the outside of the closure and bottle; and   turning the bottle on its side so as to allow the undesirable matter to drain through the at least one drain hole and to the outside of the closure and bottle.   
     
     
       9. The method of claim 8, and further comprising sealing an inner seal disposed between the at least one drain hole and the fluid. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 8, and further comprising providing a self-sealing dispensing valve in the closure. 
     
     
       11. The method of claim 8, and further comprising blowing air across the closure to allow undesirable matter to drain through the at least one drain hole. 
     
     
       12. A method of sealing a bottle comprising: filling a bottle with a fluid;   attaching a closure to the bottle, the closure including at least one drain hole positioned to permit drainage of undesirable matter from within the closure to the outside of the closure and bottle; and   blowing air across the closure to allow the undesirable matter to drain through the at least one drain hole and to the outside of the closure and bottle.   
     
     
       13. The method of claim 12, and further comprising sealing an inner seal disposed between the at least one drain hole and the fluid. 
     
     
       14. The method of claim 12, and further comprising providing a self-sealing dispensing valve in the closure. 
     
     
       15. A method of sealing a bottle comprising: filling a bottle with a fluid;   attaching a closure to the bottle, the closure including a self sealing dispensing valve therein and at least one drain hole; and   turning the bottle on its side so as to allow undesirable matter to drain through the at least one drain hole.   
     
     
       16. The method of claim 15 and further comprising the step of rotating the bottle about its axis while the bottle is on its side to cause the undesirable matter to drain through the at least one drain hole. 
     
     
       17. A method of sealing a bottle comprising: filling a bottle with a fluid;   attaching a closure to the bottle, the closure including at least one drain hole;   turning the bottle on its side so as to allow undesirable matter to drain through the at least one drain hole; and   blowing air across the closure to allow undesirable matter to drain through the at least one drain hole.   
     
     
       18. A method of sealing a bottle comprising: filling a bottle with a fluid;   attaching a closure to the bottle, the closure including a self sealing dispensing valve therein and at least one drain hole; and   blowing air across the closure to allow undesirable matter to drain through the at least one drain hole.   
     
     
       19. The method of claim 18 and further comprising the step of rotating the bottle about its axis to cause the undesirable matter to drain through the at least one drain hole. 
     
     
       20. A method of sealing a bottle, comprising filling a bottle with a fluid;   attaching a closure to the bottle, the closure having a self-sealing dispensing valve therein and at least one drain hole positioned to permit drainage of undesirable matter from within the closure to the outside of the closure and bottle; and   rotating the bottle about its axis to cause the undesirable matter to drain through the least one drain hole.   
     
     
       21. A sealing and dispensing device for a package containing a fluid, the package including a land area, comprising a closure shaped to engage the land area of the package, said closure including an elongate tubular boss through which the fluid in the package may be dispensed;   a self-sealing dispensing valve disposed within said boss of said closure; and   a cap operable to cover said closure, with one of said cap and said closure including at least one drain hole to allow drainage of undesirable matter that may exist under said cap to the outside of said cap and package.   
     
     
       22. The device of claim 21 wherein said cap includes a peripheral rim, and said at least one drain hole is disposed in said peripheral rim of said cap. 
     
     
       23. The device of claim 21 wherein said cap includes a central dome of a height sufficient to receive the boss of the closure, with said cap being pivotably mounted to said closure for pivotal movement between a covering position wherein the dome encloses the boss and a removed position wherein the boss is exposed and the fluid may be dispensed therethrough. 
     
     
       24. The device of claim 23 wherein said cap includes a protrusion positioned within said central dome to prevent said self-sealing dispensing valve from opening while said cap is in said covering position.